Power Rankings: WGC-CA Championship

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Pardon while I take a moment to cross off "Need to see if he is mentally tough enough to overcome the perception of fatigue" from my notebook on Camilo Villegas. If the suits at Honda headquarters wanted to piggyback his performance last week, they should consider rolling out a sporty coupe in South America and call it the Clinic.

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Naturally, the question entering the no-cut World Golf Championships-CA Championship is if Villegas can keep the pedal down. Actually, it may be more about how far down he can press it. His numbers were sterling across the board at PGA National, and his five-stroke margin of victory matched the all-time mark at the event.

TPC Blue Monster at Doral played -1.085 in relation to par a year ago. Of the 24 par-72s in 2009, it was the eighth-easiest. The wind will be a factor through Friday at least. A fair chance of rain exists through the second round, and thunderstorms could postpone the action once or twice.

Last year, winds ranged from 10-20 mph throughout the tournament, but 19 golfers finished double-digits under par. With greens anticipated to be very receptive given the moisture, and TPC Blue Monster prone to giving up birdies even in less-than-ideal conditions, guys can rediscover some confidence this week.

Power Rankings: World Golf Championships-CA Championship

Rank Player   Comment Paul CASEY He's the forgotten man, lurking in the shadows of Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan. Honda T4 was his third top-10 in as many starts. Currently sixth in greens hit on TOUR. Steve STRICKER Won in his last stroke-play start at Riviera. Hasn't shot above par in 12 rounds in '10. Owns a lethal stat combo of 14th in GIR and 21st in putting. T6, T13 here the last two years. Camilo VILLEGAS He can win in consecutive weeks. T5 here in '09 and doesn't have to travel 2,600 miles in a three-day span this week. Tops on TOUR in all-around, scoring average and earnings. Ian POULTER Poulter joins Kevin Sutherland, Dean Wilson and Clarence Rose as one-time TOUR victors that haven't won a stroke-play event. He can validate his lofty perch with an improvement on last year's T13. Anthony KIM Kim rebounded from terrible third rounds the last two weeks with Sunday 67s. He acknowledged needing to put four rounds together. While a lot of guys say it, Kim really is close. Rory MCILROY He's barely cracked six figures in earnings in two starts. Even prodigies endure learning curves. He gets the benefit of my doubt this week. He tied for 20th in '09 despite a 72-73 finish. Phil MICKELSON The '09 champ crushed the two-year trend of needing to lead the field in greens hit to win. Lefty ranked T33 a year ago but led the field in birdies. Best finish in four '10 starts remains T8 at Pebble. Jim FURYK First time he's gone this deep into a season (when healthy) without a top-10. However, he's posted top-3s here the last two years. He led the field in birdies (24) in 2008 and ranked second (23) in '09. Vijay SINGH His T4 at the Honda was his first top-5 since consecutive victories in the 2008 Playoffs. It's a corner turned for the big guy, who tied for second here in 2008. Oliver WILSON Until he wins somewhere -- anywhere -- he'll be underrated. T5 here last year despite a double bogey finish. T17 at last week's Honda and went 3-1 at Match Play.